Many of my drum students have problems when leading with their non-dominant hand. This occurs when attempting drum fills as well as when starting rudiments with their left hand (e.g.) if they are right-handed. There are nice exercises that deal...
Read moreWhat Are The Most Overlooked Aspects of Drumming?
I think that this is a great question, and one that I was asked recently. From my experience, two things come to mind: (1) not enough time is spent on basic hand technique; and (2) not enough time is spent listening to the masters. Some people...
Read moreShould You Go To Music School?
Some musicians want to further their education by attending a college or university whereas others simply like learning “on the job.” If the resources are there, I see no reason not to do both. I learned so much at Berklee College of...
Read morePlay Less
More is Less is a saying that many of us have heard, and it’s been talked about quite a bit through the years. I have to say, I really like the idea of playing less. I love the feeling of establishing a strong groove and trying to keep it...
Read moreTechnique; Aging and Chops
There was a recent post on a social networking site wondering if certain drummers had lost some ability over the years. The author was reminiscing about music from the 1970’s that was high-energy and recorded with some great drummers. These...
Read moreLearning Tunes for Different Bands
This past weekend I had the pleasure of working with four bands, three of whom were new to me. I had to learn quite a few songs in a fairly short period of time and keep it straight at each gig. For one of the bands, charts were emailed and I...
Read moreAttitude
Simply put, I love what I do. Not only do I get to play the drums at many different kinds of gigs, but I also have the opportunity to influence students and try to impart some drumming knowledge. I’m never too old to learn from anyone, and...
Read moreTuning Drums
I like my drums to sound good and I try to tune them after setting up at a gig. This means that I try to to get to a gig in plenty of time to not only set up, but to accomplish the tuning task as well. It’s not always possible for me to...
Read moreStaying Positive
I have found a great way to feel good and stay positive – practice and play my drums! This has rarely failed. I may be having a normal day or even a not so great day, but playing my drums always helps. The physicality of it and also the...
Read moreKeep Trying
Whether I’m trying to relearn how to follow a conductor or learn a David Garibaldi groove, I keep trying. I refrain from saying, “well, I’m doing my best.” Yes, I may be doing the best that I can at that moment (which is...
Read moreCommunication
I don’t always say things in the best way possible. If I’m not careful, I can take things personally and end up feeling hurt. I am human and I embrace that, yet I continue the process of trying to always be better. To the best of my...
Read moreListening to Your Body
There have been times when I’ve come away from a gig and I’ve been in pain. My arm was sore and fatigued. The music was fun and all, but my body was telling me a different story. Gradually, I’m learning to listen to my body and...
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